please, your thoughts on a disease.

[Matt Nace]

My one Barb was sticken by a disease that made him to "tricks" as my nephew would say. To us, I mean swimming in circles upside down , losing balance. I thought ok a simple swim bladder disease? He was ruby red in color and eatting just really messed up in swimming. About 3 days later, the other fish beat the crap out of him(the smaller male barbs...nice guys heh?) and I had to put him down.

Well a week later someone else had it, only he had some scales missing(before he started swimming erratic) I put him down right away. I fear, and hope not, that my tank could have a tuberculosis bacteria.

Anyone have a different opinion on what it could be?

 

[razorblade]

well I'm sorry about your fishes but i wouldnt have aclue what this is that is killing them..... i remember when i had my fav. angle swim upside down. I was just about to put it down when i put the net in and it started to swim again..... lucky to say it's still alive today!!!

 

[clothahump]

Do not be too worried about this, I have seen this quite a few times and have always put it down to old age.
The reason your other fish started picking on it is a natural process.
In the wild other fish pick up on the vibrations of sick fish and eat them, that is why you do not see very many sick fish in rivers and streams. 8)

 

[JWright]

As cold-hearted as it may sound, whenever I have a fish exhibiting those symptoms I euthanize it. That may seem a bit over the top, but hten I've also never had an outbreak of any diseases.

Josh

 

[Matt Nace]

The two rubys who were euthanized, were kinda getting some years on them(they were almost 5 years old), so I suppose it may not be the disease I thought..which is good.

 

[Cillana]

Do you know how old cherry barbs get? My 3 oldest individuals are 4 years old. Do you think they'll live about 5 years also?

 

[Matt Nace]

I have 2 cherrys about 4 years old, and some about 7 monthes old. I am not really sure how long they will live.

My oldest Barb I ever kept was a little over 6 years old , a Male Ruby.